Effective Date: January 1, 2025
Last Updated: September 12, 2025
By accessing or using the website timhowarddds.com (the "Website") operated by Tim Howard DDS ("Practice," "we," "us," or "our"), you ("User" or "you") acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and our dental practice.
If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use our Website. Your continued use of the Website following any changes to these Terms signifies your acceptance of such changes.
This Website provides general information about our dental practice, services, and oral health education. The Website allows users to:
Important Notice: This Website does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. All information provided is for general educational purposes only and should not be considered specific medical advice.
The content on this Website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All information, including text, graphics, images, and other materials, is general in nature and may not apply to your specific situation.
You should always:
Use of this Website does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Tim Howard DDS or any of our staff members. A doctor-patient relationship is established only through direct, in-person consultation and examination at our office.
While we strive to provide accurate and current information about dental treatments and procedures, medical practices and standards evolve continuously. The information on this Website may not reflect the most recent medical developments and should not be considered complete or exhaustive.
As a healthcare provider, we are committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and its implementing regulations at 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164. Our complete HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices is available separately and describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information.
Reference: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule
When you visit our Website, we may collect certain information including:
We implement appropriate technical and administrative safeguards to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. These measures include:
Reference: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HIPAA Security Rule
We may use third-party services for website analytics, appointment scheduling, or other business purposes. Any third-party service providers that may access your personal information are required to maintain appropriate privacy protections consistent with applicable laws.
Our Website is not directed toward children under 13 years of age, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent, as required by the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and its implementing regulation at 16 CFR Part 312.
If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without proper parental consent, we will delete such information promptly.
Parents and Guardians: If you believe we have collected information from your child under 13, please contact us immediately using the contact information provided below.
Reference: Federal Trade Commission, Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule
For children under 13 who are patients of our practice:
Recent Update: Effective June 23, 2025, updated COPPA requirements include enhanced consent mechanisms and data retention limitations as specified in the amended regulation.
Reference: Federal Trade Commission, FTC Finalizes Changes to Children's Privacy Rule
We are committed to ensuring that our Website is accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. We strive to follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standards where technically feasible.
Reference: U.S. Department of Justice, Guidance on Web Accessibility and the ADA
Our Website includes features designed to improve accessibility, such as:
If you experience difficulty accessing any part of our Website or need assistance with any content, please contact us using the information provided below. We will work to provide the information in an accessible format.
Reference: ADA National Network, Health Care and the Americans With Disabilities Act
You may use our Website for lawful purposes related to:
You agree not to use our Website to:
Any information, comments, or content you submit through our Website becomes our property and may be used for legitimate business purposes, subject to applicable privacy laws. You represent that any submitted content is accurate and that you have the right to provide such information.
All content on this Website, including text, graphics, logos, images, and software, is owned by Tim Howard DDS or our licensors and is protected by United States copyright and trademark laws. The practice name "Tim Howard DDS" and associated logos are trademarks of our practice.
We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Website for personal, non-commercial purposes in accordance with these Terms. This license does not permit you to:
We respect intellectual property rights and comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If you believe your copyrighted work has been infringed, please contact us with the required information specified under federal law.
While we strive to maintain Website availability, we do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free access. Our Website is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.
Important Legal Notice: These Website Terms of Service do not limit or affect our professional liability for dental services provided in our office, which is governed by applicable state professional liability standards and our separate patient treatment agreements.
Our liability relating to Website use is limited to the maximum extent permitted by law. We shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Website.
Our Website may contain links to third-party websites or resources. We do not endorse or assume responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of third-party sites. Your interactions with third-party sites are governed by their respective terms and privacy policies.
While our Website may provide information about appointment scheduling, all appointments must be confirmed directly with our office. Online appointment requests are not confirmed until you receive direct communication from our staff.
Our office appointment policies, including cancellation and rescheduling requirements, are provided separately and are not governed by these Website Terms. Please refer to the patient information provided during your first visit or contact our office directly.
Treatment costs, insurance policies, and payment arrangements are established through separate agreements with our practice and are not covered by these Website Terms of Service.
We conduct our business practices in accordance with applicable federal and state consumer protection laws, including but not limited to:
Reference: Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection
We provide services without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, or other protected characteristics in accordance with federal and state civil rights laws.
Our practice operates in compliance with applicable state dental practice acts and regulations governing dental care delivery, professional licensing, and patient rights.
Reference: Dental Assisting National Board, State Dental Practice Acts
We retain Website-related personal information only as long as necessary for legitimate business purposes or as required by applicable laws and regulations.
Patient treatment records are maintained according to applicable state dental practice regulations and HIPAA requirements, which are separate from these Website Terms.
Subject to legal and professional requirements, you may request deletion of personal information collected through our Website by contacting us using the information provided below.
We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or business operations. Material changes will be posted on our Website with an updated "Last Modified" date.
For significant changes affecting your rights or our practices, we will provide appropriate notice through our Website or direct communication when feasible. Your continued use of the Website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.
These Terms may be updated to comply with new or changed legal requirements, including updates to HIPAA, COPPA, ADA accessibility standards, or other applicable regulations.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the state where our practice is located, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be resolved in accordance with applicable state law.
Disputes related to professional dental services are subject to applicable state dental practice regulations and professional liability standards, not these Website Terms of Service.
Any legal proceedings related to these Website Terms shall be brought in the appropriate state or federal courts with jurisdiction over our practice location.
Tim Howard DDS
1324 SE 17th St.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316
Phone: 954-998-3527
Email: info@timhowarddds.com
For questions about these Terms of Service, our Website practices, or privacy policies, please contact us using the above information. We will respond to inquiries within a reasonable time frame.
If you need assistance accessing our Website or require information in an alternative format, please contact our office directly. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to our services.
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. Invalid provisions shall be reformed to achieve their intended purpose to the extent legally permissible.
Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision or any other provision. All rights and remedies are cumulative and not exclusive.
These Terms, together with our separately provided HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices and any applicable patient treatment agreements, constitute the entire agreement regarding your use of our Website.
Last Updated: September 12, 2025
Next Review Date: September 12, 2026
This Terms of Service policy has been prepared based on current federal and state legal requirements as of the effective date. Legal requirements may change, and this policy may be updated accordingly. For the most current version, please check our Website regularly.